Tilly Norwood lands a lead, and Hollywood asks: actor or software

AI Character Tilly Norwood Cast as Lead in Film 'Misaligned'

Tilly Norwood, an AI character developed by British AI entertainment startup Particle6, has been cast as the lead in the feature film 'Misaligned.' The film is a coming-of-age drama depicting the process of Tilly, who lacks real-world experience, learning human emotions such as desire, ambition, and shame.

News of Tilly's casting has ignited a debate in Hollywood regarding whether AI can be recognized as an actor. While some critics argue that AI should be defined as mere software, noting no difference from existing animation, others contend that if the quality of the final product is guaranteed, it does not matter whether the entity behind the performance is a human or an AI.

Actors Union SAG-AFTRA: "Acting is an Art Rooted in Human Experience"

The actors union, SAG-AFTRA, expressed strong opposition to this casting. In a joint statement, union president Sean Astin and general secretary Duncan Crabtree-Ireland drew a line, stating that Tilly is merely a composite created by software, not a person. They opposed the rise of AI as a lead actor, emphasizing that the act of acting itself is an art form based on human experience.

Opinions among industry professionals are also divided. Director Justin Bateman, a former actor, pointed out that AI cannot experience actual emotions, stating, "Human characters must be played by human actors." Conversely, Steven Galloway, dean of the film school at Chapman University, evaluated that while it may be difficult to view AI as an actor, there is room to interpret it as a form of 'performance.'

Production Team: "AI is a Process of Creating New Types of Jobs"

The actual production process is designed on the premise of human intervention. Human actors and creators first design the character's personality, emotions, and speech patterns; the AI then generates various versions of the performance based on these designs, and finally, the director and production team select the most suitable scenes.

Elin van der Velden, co-founder of Particle6, argued that AI is not replacing actors but is part of a process creating new types of jobs, claiming, "Creativity ultimately depends on which performance a human chooses." Particle6 recently announced the launch of 'Xicoia' at the Zurich Film Festival, the world's first AI talent studio. The production team stated that Tilly Norwood is in discussions regarding a contract with a talent agency, but conflict continues as Hollywood actors such as Melissa Barrera and Nicholas Alexander Chavez express their opposition.